Honoring Jackie Robinson

It’s a special day here at Dodger Stadium and throughout baseball. Without Jackie Robinson, there would be no Maury Wills, no Tommy Davis, no Dusty Baker, no Matt Kemp, no James Loney, no Russell Martin, no Orlando Hudson, no Barack Obama…the list goes on and on.

His memory and actions will be saluted and all of our players will wear No. 42 in his honor. Here’s the lineup:

I really thought Hudson was going to be bench today just because he did get a cycle last game but his numbers aren’t that good against Cain 0/18. I’m looking for the Odog to keep up his great hitting and have another good game and gets his 1st hit off of Cain and keep him winless against us in his career.

My dad was born/raised in Brooklyn and loved the Dodgers. My absolutely earliest baseball memories are of watching Jackie Robinson on TV during rarely broadcasted games and then seeing my dad go crazy with excitement over his play. It took a lot to move him to that state, but Jackie did it.

This truly feels like a holiday to me, in fact, if I was sill working I would take the day off and celebrate Jackie Robinson Day.
Monday I was at the inaugural opening of Citi Field and in the Jackie Robinson Rotunda, it was magnificent.
Don’t worry he was wearing his Dodger uniform in all his moving and still pictures.
What a shrine, I recommend everybody to come and see it.
As a Dodger fan I was proud to let everyone know it.

Everything I have read about Jackie leads me to believe some people are put on this earth for a special reason. Baseball was not even his best game and there were others far more talented than him if that is all Branch Ricky wanted. But of course we know Ricky wanted more than just talent and as they say, the rest is history. The color line would have been broken at some point but Jackie was the one who had to endure the process.

Torre makes me more nervous than coffee with his batting order…and I don’t even drink coffee. What’s the “Peter Principle”…keep promoting a worker until he reaches his level of incompetence? Ethier was doing just fine in the six hole, thank you. Who cares if he owns Cain? That’s history. And Loney was doing fine cleaning up. Joe can’t stand to leave things alone. He’s worse than a teen-aged girl trying to pick an outfit…no offense to teen-aged girls, mind you!

Happy Jackie Robinson Day, Joe Pierre! Glad you enjoyed Citi Field (or as some Citi-hating NY fans say, Shea: http://www.nomas-nyc.com/product_shea.html). I haven’t gotten a chance to visit NYC yet, but the new Mets park has made it much more likely that I have to take a trip to see it.

The greatest thing about Jackie Robinson is that he did so much to benefit the lives of those who came after him… people who don’t like baseball And/Or people who are not African American benefit from the life that he led. Jackie made EVERY American’s life better.

as i explain to my kids it is an honor to be a dodger fan. we are the organization that truly is THE pioneering and game changing TEAM on the field and throughout the world. to me it is an honor to be a fan of the major league squad that broke the color barrier, to make a political statement that all men & women are created equally and have the right to the same inalienable rights. the first squad to truly pioneer to the far east and sign a japanese player and a korean. to be amongst the first to have a native american player (and all time great Zack Wheat). to be the first major league team to pioneer to the west coast and win MULTIPLE championships for their beloved city, while the gnats from the north still have won zero. to be such a great organization that Jackie Robinson REFUSED to go to the gnats. the first and probably only squad to have a player so captivating on every level on and off the field that his number was retired throughout the entire league. to have such a track record of treating all cultures and creeds with such equality that they did not have to hire other candidates when they hired joe torre due to the organizations history (current and past) of treating EVERYONE fairly. to have the highest ranking woman ever in a major league front office, who could be the first ever female GM soon. yes when i cheer for the blue it truly means more than championships, it is pride. GO BLUE! 42

The major leagues have recognized that many African-American athletes and fans have left the game for other sports, and there is a movement to bring back this great fanbase and athletes to baseball.
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It is fitting then, that Jackie Robinson’s Dodgers regularly start four African-Americans in James Loney, Matt Kemp, Orlando Hudson, and Russell Martin (okay, he’s African-Canadian). It is even possible that on a given night the starting lineup could consist of six African-Americans with Juan Pierre and James McDonald joining the others.
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GO BLUE!!

Shad it would be great if he could of gotten another inning out of Kersh but that is why they have a team. The bully has to pick up the starters. It’s not Torre that made a mistake there with Kuo. That is on Kuo not executing. As well as the offense not producing when they had the chance.
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Lame…

MartinLoneyKemp and I were at Dodger Stadium in 1990 when Ramon Martinez tied a Dodger Record for most strikeouts with 18–and he did it in 8 innings, going into the 9th with a chance to set the Dodger Record and tie the NL Record, Set the NL record and tie the MLB record, and break the MLB record, respectively. We were rooting for errors and dropped third strikes.
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I thought Kershaw might stay in–6 more strikeouts would have gotten him to 19.
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I think MartinLoneyKemp might be there tonight with our uncle.
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I was there on Jackie Robinson night last year–Josh is right about all the things that Jackie made possible–not just in baseball, but through baseball in the world. I was sort of hoping that the President would go to throw out the first pitch tonight at the game at the new park–it would have been fitting.

Ugh–no sooner did I post than did that happen.
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Over-managing. Kuo’s been perfect this year, and great last year. That’s why he’s the set-up guy. And what we needed was a strike out, and Kuo does that quite a bit.
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Bad spot to give up on him in exchange for a rookie reliever.

Bad news for Kershaw, but there remains much hope with this offense.
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I should note–the whole situation is the offense’s fault. If we leave 5 on base instead of 7, Torre probably lets Kuo keep going, and even if he lets a run or two score, the Dodgers still lead. But there was too much pressure on the bullpen, who is also to blame, of course.
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But now it’s up to the Bison. This, I think, is an early test for this team–the team that seems to have finally arrived–is for real.

He just didn’t execute there. Like Leek mentioned if the bats had scored some more runs earlier there wouldn’t of been as much pressure on the bully.
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You could kind of see that happening earlier when they weren’t scoring runs. That is just the way baseball is! That’s what makes it so much fun.
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Way to go O-Dog!
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Come on Manny!!!!

Super fantastic game by the Blue. Superior start by Kershaw “The Claw” with a one-hitter through seven innings. Bullpen makes things interesting, but the offense comes right back in the eighth with key hits from Andre and Russ, then Loney with a Sac Fly – all night long RBIs without hits – James! Then Brox shuts them down, and the offense comes right back with the on-fire O-Dog, Manny, and Loney with one more hitless RBI. Just remember, a walk is a run.
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And with that, we are tied for first place. Is that worth ice cream, or do we need to have first all by ourselves?

Damn which I had a fantasy baseball team with Kershaw and Biils on them but I got them in different league but that going to hurt because I have Kuo/Lowe/Weaver with Kershaw in one league. Oh Oh Kershaw doing an interview and Torre is not on TV.

I had to listen to gnat radio all the way to Bakersfield this morning, and they themselves were saying that the gnats amd their fans just look at defeating the Dodgers and the Dodgers look at winning championships. Their own radio talk show hosts are saying it!!! Well, this certainly was a great victory tonight. Let’s get out the brooms and go for the sweep tomorrow boys!!!

Loge Deck – left field area (section 159), row A. I am wearing all Andre…..down to my nails, which have the #16 on two of them. The funny thing about that is if I flip the number upside down, it’s 91, my daughter’s volleyball number. My son’s number in baseball is number 11, which happens to be my favorite NASCAR driver’s number. So, I got my athletes and kids covered.

Hey dodgereric – I didn’t see you sneak in up there. How are you doing? :)

what a gut check victory. if our pitching can shake out, we will be championship caliber. a LOT of what if’s with the pitching, and now that Hiroki appears to be out for close to another month. alot of ?’s with the pitching: kuo’s elbow, corey’s shoulder, broxton’s confidence, bellisario’s ability to adjust, mcdonald’s confidence and ability to execute, stults – mystery man, billz has no ?’s solid, kershaw is answering the ?’s but not quite solid (the gnats were swinging wild tonight) and wolf……..?

No, not every weekend….although it seems like it sometimes. I’ve got to get this figured out by Friday as they’re leaving then. This week it’s difficult because I wasn’t there – celebrating Chris’ birthday and all. I’m having a little trouble translating my subs’ writing and the figures are swimming on me. So I’m quitting for the evening and will have to steal a little time at work. If I take my laptop to the game, Chris’ll have my hide!

Thanks, bluecrewGIRL. I took a sabattical for a little while, but it’s all good now. Hope you’ve been OK as well!

Shad, I think we may have seen the last of ndeschenes. I think he retired when Superman Jeff Kent did. I could be wrong, it’s just a theory. He was incensed when Kent was benched in the playoffs.

I think I’m gonna turn in. It’s been a long, eventful day and it’s bound to be a longer and more eventful day tomorrow. If you’re going to the game tomorrow and see a female Ethier sitting with an old and gray Bill Buckner, come over and say “Hi!”.

Dang we went from opening day crowd of 57,099 to 42,511. This would been a good game to go. Hudson was 0/18 against Cain and had 2 hits with a bunt single to the pitcher. I hope Pierre was watching that. I was hoping a total of 114,198.

You forgot about the two people wearing orange and black!!!! LOL!!! I am not sure what Matt, Mariya and
Chris are wearing, but you can be pretty much be assured Bill and Michael will be sporting the orange and black – LOL!!! Good Night, God Bless and see you tomorrow, and I am very happy Matt won his hockey game tonight….very impressive!!

Shad – I personally don’t think anybody can replace ndeschenes. I, however, think dodger4life is doing an excellent job of rallying the ITDers around our team. He has become quite the spirit leader around here, don’t you think?

I need to get some sleep. I have a long day ahead tomorrow…..I believe we are driving up the coast, ending up somewhere in Los Angeles and then onto the Dodger game. It is sure to be an adventure I am sure. Good night and God Bless everyone :)

Fantabulous job by new Superman lefty Claton Kershaw with 13Ks in 7 innings. Another torrid hitting day for “Batman” Orlando Hudson playing for retired Superman Jeff Kent. “Big Game” James Loney drives in three runs without a hit. Matt “The Hitman” Kemp with a tremendous 9 game hitting streak. Lights out effort by our new closer Jonathan Broxton. Another HR for team leader Casey Blake. Manny, Marty and the rest of the boys, well done!! Surely this will be the year that megastars and champions are made of our beloved Dodgers!!!

GOOOOOD MORNIIIIIIIING DODGERTOOOOOWN! Last nights game was awsome. It was just a very windy…everyone at the stadium and at home were feeling the BLUE BREEZE OF KERSHAW’S PITCHES. He was awsome…our KERSHAW is growing up. And too me, everyone (but Pierre) played great, and contributed to last nights win……GOOOD JOB BOYS! Now we want to see this for the rest of the games…!
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ROSE

Good morning ITD, Dodgerfaithful
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What a game last night, and since the last game of the D-Backs series, for that matter.
The only starter not to have a hit has 3 of the teams 5 RBI’s and the game winning one. Kershaw you were magnifecent, outstanding performance last night. Having only gameday I listened to music as the game was played, Russ is up and Ride Captain Ride was playing, Russ gets on base. Every things gonna be alright, Al Green and the O Dog gets on. Every little things gonna be alright and Manny is on. Mas Tequila and Andre is aboard. I can feel it coming in the air tonight and Brox shuts them down, and as we bat in the 9th….. Rock Me Baby All Night Long. And Rock Me They Did!!!
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Tonight cant get here fast enough, ( This is the way we like to party. )
.http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IY2-u6GYats
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Final game of the series : 7:10 PT Slults and Zito.
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LETS GO DODGERS, LETS GO!!!!
BRING THE RING TO L.A. IN 2009!!!!!

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